Om-gnosis Episode 8: Interview with Vinayagam Swamigal
In this eighth episode of Om-gnosis, we interview Vinayagam Swamigal, Managing Trustee of the Sri Sabapathy Lingeshwar Jiva Samadhi Temple in Villivakkam, Tamil Nadu. This temple is located on the site of a meditation hall (maṭālayam) established by Sri Sabhapati Swami, who is known for meeting with Helena Blavatsky and Henry Olcott, the founders of the Theosophical Society, and whose works were integrated into the Magick of Aleister Crowley. Vinayagam Swamigal's interview emphasizes several important Tamil and Sanskrit dimensions of Sabhapati Swami's work. These include the previous gurus of the meditation hall who were Sabhapati's students, Konnur Ramalinga Swamigal and Anandananda Swamigal; what yoga and meditation meant according to the “accomplished ones” or Siddhars; how Hindu gods and goddesses are connected to yoga; how music and art play a role in temple life; and the role of women at the meditation hall. The interview concludes with a short tour around the meditation hall and the tumulus (jīva samādhi) where Sabhapati is believed to be buried under a Shivalinga.
About Vinayagam Swamigal
Vinayagam Swamigal is managing trustee of Sri Sabaphati Lingeswar Jeeva Samathi Madalayam, a temple and meditation hall in Villivakkam, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu in southern India. He and his late father Hariharan Swamigal have lived near the temple his entire life, and personally knew Aanandha Aanandha Swamigal (d. 1983) who claimed to be a student of Sabhapati Swami (ca. 1828–1923), an important author on yogic techniques and diagrams whose works attracted followers across South Asia as well as global occult audiences.
Transcript
Transcript will be available shortly.